Thinking about reviewing Short Story eBooks on my blog...

TheWritingRunner · Mar 4, 2011

I LOVE short stories, and I hate that it's considered a dying art by many, but I think maybe the e-revolution could help keep the form alive. I've seen several authors selling their short stories on the Kindle and Nook, etc, which I think is great.

To help draw attention to those short story eBooks, which I think might be getting overlooked because most readers are looking for novels, I was thinking of reviewing short story eBooks on my blog as a regular feature. I don't have a lot of free time, so it probably wouldn't be every week, but I think it could be fun and help my fellow writers...

What do you think of this idea? Would it be worth the effort? Is anyone here putting out their short stories as eBooks, and would you be interested in having them reviewed?

-- TWR

AlwaysJuly · Mar 4, 2011

I think it's a fun idea. I'd be more likely to buy a shot story for my Kindle if I'd heard good things about it.

RobJ · Mar 4, 2011

Just out of interest, I don't know about ebooks so much, but one of the best places to go for reviews of short story collections is the Short Story Review web site here, run by Tania Hershman:

http://www.theshortreview.com/

izanobu · Mar 4, 2011

I'm putting some of my short stories up as e-books (and will do more as rights revert etc). I think it's a cool idea. Short fiction is awesome

Sheryl Nantus · Mar 4, 2011

I have a short story out on the Kindle and Smashwords - originally sold to GRIT magazine years ago... love to have it looked at!

The Project

TheWritingRunner · Mar 6, 2011

izanobu said:
Short fiction is awesome

I agree! I'll keep kicking the idea around and see if I have the time to do it properly.

Thanks to everyone for the feedback!

TWR

kowalskil · Mar 6, 2011

TheWritingRunner said:
I LOVE short stories, and I hate that it's considered a dying art by many, but I think maybe the e-revolution could help keep the form alive. I've seen several authors selling their short stories on the Kindle and Nook, etc, which I think is great.

To help draw attention to those short story eBooks, which I think might be getting overlooked because most readers are looking for novels, I was thinking of reviewing short story eBooks on my blog as a regular feature. I don't have a lot of free time, so it probably wouldn't be every week, but I think it could be fun and help my fellow writers...

What do you think of this idea? Would it be worth the effort? Is anyone here putting out their short stories as eBooks, and would you be interested in having them reviewed?

-- TWR

I think that most authors would love to see their books reviewed. Even a negative review is better than a no-reviews situation.

Ludwik
.

Joshua Rigley · Mar 7, 2011

TheWritingRunner said:
I LOVE short stories, and I hate that it's considered a dying art by many, but I think maybe the e-revolution could help keep the form alive. I've seen several authors selling their short stories on the Kindle and Nook, etc, which I think is great.

To help draw attention to those short story eBooks, which I think might be getting overlooked because most readers are looking for novels, I was thinking of reviewing short story eBooks on my blog as a regular feature. I don't have a lot of free time, so it probably wouldn't be every week, but I think it could be fun and help my fellow writers...

What do you think of this idea? Would it be worth the effort? Is anyone here putting out their short stories as eBooks, and would you be interested in having them reviewed?

-- TWR

Go for it. I'm posting my stories on my blog, but I may compile them in ebook form later on.

I doubt short stories are in any danger of dying. They've been around for millennia. It's like saying that long stories are dying; simply not true.

Plus, thanks to the Internet, I think one could argue that short stories would do better online than longer stories, as people tend to be more impatient online.

Kate Thornton · Mar 12, 2011

I just put up a short story on Amazon - it has a great back story, too.

When I was negotiating publication of my current collection, INHUMAN CONDITION, I had planned for all the stories in it to be previously-published favorites if mine. I especially wanted IT DOESN'T TAKE A GENIUS, a gritty tale of balancing the order of the universe in a very satisfying way.

But the publisher did not like my raw language or the subject matter and refused to put it in the collection.

The book has been moderately successful, but I was experimenting with publishing a short story to Kindle and naturally this is the one I went with. At 99 cents, it's a bargain - and you get to see what all the fuss was about. A few copies have already sold and it's only been up less than a day.

And I would love to have it reviewed. Thank you - I think a short story ebook review blog would be a great thing.

PS Here's the product description from Amazon:

Product Description

In this intriguing short story, Caltech accounting clerk Miss Dean discovers a pair of would-be computer geeks plotting a heinous crime. But it doesn't take a genius to know what to do with them.
..

sambgood · Mar 22, 2011

TheWritingRunner said:
I agree! I'll keep kicking the idea around and see if I have the time to do it properly.

Thanks to everyone for the feedback!

TWR

I think a short story review blog would be awesome! I'm a fan of short stories and would love to read more reviews on which ones I should buy.

If you're worried about having the time to do it, perhaps you can ask some friends and/or fellow AWers to help out? A sort of group review blog for short stories?

MJNL · Mar 22, 2011

Great idea! As both a short writer and reader, I'd love a place to find reviews of e-pubbed stories.

Colin L · Mar 31, 2011

I think it's a great idea. One of the things I love most about the eBook revolution taking place is picking up short stories for a dollar or two, almost like buying singles instead of the full album. Knowing what the cream is would be a wonderful resource.

I have 2 short stories currently available on Kindle and nook and a few more on the way; if you need some inaugural works to review I'd be happy to send them your way. Drop me a PM if you'd like, I'd love to talk further if you're interested!

TheWritingRunner · Apr 1, 2011

Colin L said:
I think it's a great idea. One of the things I love most about the eBook revolution taking place is picking up short stories for a dollar or two, almost like buying singles instead of the full album.

That's exactly how I feel!

I'll have to see if I can make some time in my schedule to do this. Thanks for the feedback!

dgaughran · Apr 2, 2011

I think this is a great idea too.

I love reading and writing short stories, and I am considering self-publishing a few once rights revert. I will definitely check out your site.

Good luck,

Dave

TheWritingRunner · Apr 5, 2011

Thanks, everyone! Here's something I haven't had time to research yet: is anyone else already reviewing short story eBooks on their website/blog?

Nathaniel Katz · Apr 5, 2011

Yes. I've only done two or three individual story reviews on my blog, but I've done quite a few reviews of collections and magazine issues with more planned.

TheWritingRunner · Apr 5, 2011

Nathaniel Katz said:
Yes. I've only done two or three individual story reviews on my blog, but I've done quite a few reviews of collections and magazine issues with more planned.

How is the reader feedback from your visitors? Do they seem to be enjoying the spotlight you're putting on shorter works?

Chris_Wilkins · Apr 18, 2011

TheWritingRunner said:
What do you think of this idea? Would it be worth the effort? Is anyone here putting out their short stories as eBooks, and would you be interested in having them reviewed? -- TWR

I have put some of my short stories up on a WP site of mine and would love it if you would take a look. You will find them at www.sorcerytales.com.

I must warn you. They are "epub" but with a difference which I think works better than a Kindle thingy. Certainly for short stories. If you do happen to have a look I won't be surprised if you have some questions for me. :e2writer:

And although this site is for fantasy shorts, there's another coming for general ones.

Jamesaritchie · Apr 18, 2011

Fun, but how much time will it take that could be used for writing your own stories?

Nathaniel Katz · Apr 18, 2011

Jamesaritchie said:
Fun, but how much time will it take that could be used for writing your own stories?

Well, I review in time that I probably wouldn't be using for writing anyway. It's a separate activity, not an either or.

Jamesaritchie · Apr 18, 2011

Nathaniel Katz said:
Well, I review in time that I probably wouldn't be using for writing anyway. It's a separate activity, not an either or.

Pretty much nothing that isn't mandatory, such as a nine to five job, getting some sleep, or spending a reasonable amount of time with your family, is a separate time, and reviewing also entails a heck of a lot of reading.

If it's discretionary time, it can't be separated from writing time.

pattyjansen · Apr 18, 2011

Sure. I have a book of short stories out, and two short works. If you want, contact me (does this forum do DMs?) at the site below and I'll send you a Smashwords code. The stories in question are also described on that site, so if you're in SF or fantasy...

charly · Apr 19, 2011

As both a short writer and reader, I like the idea. I have a short story out on Smashwords (as eBook). Good luck!

TheWritingRunner · Apr 22, 2011

Jamesaritchie said:
Fun, but how much time will it take that could be used for writing your own stories?

Ah, that is always an important question!

I will have some time each week I could spend on this, I think, once I get through some big deadlines this month and next. My own writing is done in bigger blocks of time -- two or three hours per sitting.

I want to read more short stories anyway, so it's a win-win if I can help promote some good reads.

Anyone who is publishing short stories as eBooks, please feel free to email me at [email protected] and I'll start a folder of authors to contact as my time frees up. I read everything, and would have no restrictions on genre, etc.

Thanks!

TWR

Thinking about reviewing Short Story eBooks on my blog...

TheWritingRunner

AlwaysJuly

slugging through

RobJ

izanobu

...

Sheryl Nantus

Holding out for a Superhero...

TheWritingRunner

kowalskil

Joshua Rigley

Kate Thornton

Still Happy to be Here. Or Anywhere

sambgood

MJNL

A Little Lost

Colin L

TheWritingRunner

dgaughran

TheWritingRunner

Nathaniel Katz

The Evil Hat

TheWritingRunner

Chris_Wilkins

Learning all about this place

Jamesaritchie

Nathaniel Katz

The Evil Hat

Jamesaritchie

pattyjansen

charly

TheWritingRunner